NFL: San Francisco 49ers don't place franchise tag on Dashon Goldson

SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers didn't place the franchise tag on All-Pro safety Dashon Goldson by Monday afternoon's deadline, and he is thrilled at becoming an unrestricted free agent March 12.

"Thank you jesus. Now fly like a bird #hawk," Goldson posted on his Twitter account, @thehawk38.

Goldson would have made $7.45 million next season if the 49ers franchised him for a second straight year. Known more for his hard hits than coverage skills, Goldson can still re-sign with the 49ers, but he also can sign elsewhere once free agency begins March 12.

"I'm very thankful I didn't get the franchise tag again but still hopeful this means something long term with the San Francisco 49ers!" Goldson tweeted in a follow-up post.

The reigning NFC champions didn't assign the franchise tag to any of their other pending free agents, including tight end Delanie Walker.

Besides Goldson, the only other starters scheduled to hit free agency are wide receiver Randy Moss and nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga. Moss foreshadowed his exit with a Saturday farewell note on Twitter. Sopoaga's status is uncertain, though he has continued to work out at the 49ers' facility over the past month.

Goldson is seeking a contract worth $8 million per season, a league official told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He played last season for $6.2 million under the franchise tag.

In his only other foray into free agency, Goldson drew a one-year, $2 million offer from the New England Patriots in 2011 before returning to the 49ers, who drafted him in the fourth round out of Washington in 2007.

Goldson totaled just three interceptions last season, the same number of fines he accrued for illegal hits. But he also received AP All-Pro first-team honors and his second straight Pro Bowl invitation.

Both Goldson and coach Jim Harbaugh had expressed hope that a long-term contract would be worked out by the 49ers front office. General manager Trent Baalke stressed last month, however, that the 49ers would avoid overpaying for players.

Chris Culliver (and his PR agency) tweeted out a picture of him visiting the Trevor Project, as part of his sensitivity training that he pledged to undergo after making derogatory remarks about gays before the Super Bowl.